A Son of Ice and Fire
A/N: And now, S3 is fully being kicked off. The next chapter after this will be the first for some of our other characters :)
Guest: With Hiccup's luck, he may full well have jinxed the foot ;)
Sam Hill: Yeah, I will be starting the lore after S3. That bit in the last chapter was just a little teaser for it.
Odinson: Nice suggestion, I could see that being quite a funny spectacle. Daenerys has already eaten a raw horse heart, what harm can a raw fish do.
Guest: I'm going to have Mildew's book be a version of the book of dragons, but maybe it could be given to Dany as a present later on.
Guest: Yeah, it does! Dagur and Heather are related, but I think the brother/sister relation they have is more important and will be expanded upon in later seasons.
Chapter 51: Turning point
Snotlout
Tension hung in the air, drowning the castle in a permanent state of turmoil. For two weeks I simply watched, as Hiccup's prophecy seemed to be coming true. More and more miniature revolts were springing up, as people cracked under the almost barbaric rule of my father and Viggo. The two of them seemed to be having the best time of their lives, living a life of luxury as others slaved day and night in their service. Back-breaking work with little rest and scraps to eat is the reality for most of the inhabitants of Dragon's edge, and tempers flared up on both sides. Workers who refused to do their job were publicly whipped, or just thrown into a cell. Although Dad dragged Hiccup from his cell out infront of his people and got him to order the people to stand down, it seemed the wheels were already in motion. A few times Dad went too far, just to prove a point, but he fortunately hasn't given Viggo free reign to torture Hiccup. Not yet anyway.
The first major sign that things were starting to spiral out of control came a few days ago. A young servant couple tried to escape, and although they did manage to make it out of the gates, they were ridden down and brought back before they had even got out of sight of the castle. The people were begging Dad for mercy, but he instead decided to execute them. Not only that, but he then placed their heads on spikes, and put them on full show above the castle's gates as a warning. It was no surprise this caused nothing but retaliation. We awoke the next morning to the news four of our men had got their throats slit in their sleep. Dad was furious, and soon enough he was allowing Viggo to take people at well to 'interrogate' them. The more of their people that disappeared with Viggo, or that were executed, the more sprang up to resist Ironborn rule. Even with over a hundred armed men inside their walls, they fought back, and all out war only grew more and more imminent. The castle was a boiling cauldron, frothing and fizzing faster with every clash, and soon it was going to boil over the sides. Then there would be no going back.
This day was just another one like usual. Cold and miserable. I visited Hiccup in the morning, but he was fast asleep, murmuring a woman's name. I decided to let him rest, and vowed to check in on him tomorrow instead. The rest of the day passed slowly, and was far from uneventful. Mildew had riled up half of the castle, so it seemed, and only our timely intervention stopped the mob from tearing him limb from limb. The old man was wearing everyone's patience down, and even Dad was starting to regret helping him at all. I asked why we were even still keeping the maester around, and all Dad said was that Mildew may still be needed, but once his use has expired, he wouldn't see the next sunrise. By late afternoon, a billowing smoke filled the air, and we ran across to find someone had set the empty stables ablaze. It took us until sunset to finally quell the flames, even with most of our men working on it, but now the only fire appeared to be in my father's eyes.
I was preparing for bed, when a knock at my door startled me into action. I sighed heavily, yawning a few times, as I made my way to the door. I opened it up, to reveal a soldier just standing there motionless, a face straight and void of emotion.
"Yes?" I asked him groggily, as he just stood idly at the door.
"You have been summoned to the council chambers, Lord Spitelout's orders," he stated bluntly. God, what is now? What couldn't wait until morning? I shuffled my feet in frustration, but sighed and nodded to him.
"I'll be right there," I replied coldly. The man briskly mirrored my nod, and then span and rushed off down the corridor. I let out a deep breath, as I trudged back across the room and haphazardly fitted my armour back on. I headed for the door, but rushed back to pick up my hammer before I left. You can never be too careful. I whistled absent-mindedly as I trotted through the castle. Down empty corridors, and down dim-lit staircases, I could hear my dad's voice from a mile away. The heated debate was already raging when the sound of shouting guided me to the room, and I slowly pushed the door open to reveal my father and Viggo stood at opposite sides of the large, black rock table staring each other down.
"Brother, I know you'll make the smart choice, and agree with me on this most pressing issue," Viggo smirked, gesturing for me to come towards him, as if I was a dog to come on command. I stood stiffly in the doorway, as both the men's stares were trained firmly on me.
"Not that I don't like late night yelling competitions, but could you at least tell me what this is all about?" I grumbled as I took a few steps inside the room. Spitelout let out a deep grunt, snapping his head back around to the table and slamming his fist on the desk.
"We need to end this now!" He exclaimed. "These people will not defy my rule any longer. I will see to it that they lose all hope, and then they will serve me as they should be already.
I took a few further steps inside the room until I was stood with my hands on the table, with the two men on either side. "If you want them to work with you, I know where to start," I proclaimed.
Viggo let out a slight chuckle, "Oh, do enlighten us with your wisdom, Snotlout." Dad gave him a deadly stare, and Viggo quickly diverted from his smug smile, to his usual unreadable blank expression. Dad's gaze soon turned to me, and although he didn't say a word, a single nod told me he still wanted to hear what I had to say. No pressure, Snotlout, no pressure.
"Just give them Mildew," I said calmly. "The people blame him as much for their predicament as much as they blame us. They hate him probably more than us. He has fulfilled his purpose, now he is just creating more and more problems. It's time for him to go."
"We've already discussed this, and that is not an option," Dad grated through his teeth. "If we do as you say, it is only a temporary solution. We need something permanent that will crush any Northern resistance."
Viggo sauntered around the table, placing a lazy arm around my shoulder, "And that's where you come in, Snotlout. We're here to discuss the fate of Lord Haddock, and we only thought it fair you get a vote," Viggo grinned. His eyes sparkled with desire. A sinister longing that could mean nothing good was going to come out of this.
"Me?" I asked warily.
"Of course, Snotlout, we all value your opinion," Viggo said flatly, but without a single drop of sincerity.
"What are the options?" I finally asked. Dad pressed both his palms into the edge of the table as he leaned against it, and although the eight foot table was joined to the floor, I swear it moved as he put all his weight against it.
"We kill him," he stated bluntly. He didn't blink, or pause, and his face was set in stone. "We should take him out into the yard at dawn. We should get every person in the castle to watch as I take his head myself. There will be no-one wanting to resist us, as we put it on a spike above the gates." He looked to me for assurance, and I just nodded blankly. This can't be happening.
"However," Viggo started, tightening his hold on my shoulder, "I would like to suggest an alternate course of action. I know you're fond of the boy, Brother, and I don't hold that against you, but at least my way, the Lord may survive another day."
I shrugged his arm from my shoulder and pushed him away. "One, I am not fond of the boy. Two, I am not your brother. Three, I doubt your alternative is any better than death, it is just prolonging the inevitable, and when you get bored you will just kill him anyway," I snapped.
"You hurt me, Snotlout, you know my methods work," he laughed. "I did good work on that Thorston girl. Ryker has already cracked, and he will be at my command when we return home. It won't take much to break this… Hiccup," he spat, as if the name was poison on his tongue.
"This… Hiccup, as you say, bested you in combat and almost killed you. I think you're just seeking Vengeance, and torturing him will barely get the people to settle down, will it?. If anything, it'll only make things worse," I growled in disgust. He shot me an angry scowl, turning his back on me and walking away, shaking his head.
With my body turned to watch Viggo trail off to the corner of the room, I didn't see the hand come through the air until it struck me. Dad's swing was fast and firm, as he patted me so hard on the back it felt like someone had clubbed me between the shoulder blades. I turned to see a wide smile on his face, as he raised one hand and clenched it into a victorious fist. "I knew I could rely on you, Son. I knew you'd agree my way was the right way. It's settled then, Hiccup Haddock dies at dawn." He hooked an arm around me, practically pulling me with him as we left the room. I just walked, barely hearing the words coming out of his mouth as my mind seemed to combust. This can't be happening. What have I done…
Astrid
Two weeks of sitting and waiting. Two weeks of broken hope. Looking through the crowds for the one face that would make everything okay. Watching for silhouettes in the dark and hoping the right outline would finally come into view. But as days passed, the sliver of faith we still held was fading. At the start, everyone would spend the time telling stories of times when things were simpler. Happier times and beloved memories. Camicazi would tell us about growing up in her village, and how she met Hiccup all those years ago. Heather talked about her life in Volantis, as well as how she will need to make a thousand apologies to my brother when she finally gets back to her husband. Valka would speak about her life on Dragon's edge before Robert's rebellion, of her and Stoick, and her baby boy. But now there is only silence. There are no more stories. You don't even have to listen hard to hear Valka weeping in the room just a bit across the hall. Now we have to move on. Somehow, we all just have to leave it behind. To leave and not turn back.
I sat silently on the edge of the bed, staring aimlessly at the floor with my head in my hands. This place that should have been our stay for a few days is now somewhere no-one wanted to leave. We all agreed to stay a few days later than we first planned, but a few days soon turned into a week, and even now we're still here. Still trapped by the shreds of belief that there is a good reason he hasn't come. A reason besides the one that means he could never come. A faint murmuring snapped me from my stupor, and I swivelled to see Heather rubbing her eyes as she sat upright.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," I mumbled, as I roughly brushed my fringe to one side, but still rested the hand on my forehead.
"You didn't. Not really," she said with a light smile. I turned and tried to reciprocate it, but I couldn't even force it out. "Are we still going then?" She asked quietly.
I nodded, speaking so quietly it was barely above a whisper, "We can't wait here forever. I'll get you to your dad, and then I'm going home."
"What?" She exclaimed. "No. I'm not leaving you. Where you go, I go. I'll go back with you."
"No, Heather. You stay with your family, I'll stay with mine," I sighed heavily.
"But we are family, aren't we, Sister?" She asked with big pleading eyes.
"We are," I smiled, as she grasped my hand in hers. "But I just want to go home now. I miss my brother. I miss my parents," I admitted, before mumbling under my breath, "I should never have left them."
"Don't say that!" She suddenly growled, punching me in the shoulder with her other hand.
"It's the truth!" I snapped back.
"It's not the truth, and you know it," she said coldly, "Don't you even fucking try to say that you wished you never came. Don't you dare!"
I sprung from the bed, walking in a straight line until my forehead rested on the wall opposite. "If I didn't come, I wouldn't have to feel like this," I said weakly, forcing back the unspent tears.
"Astrid, you're taking all the wrong things from this," Heather said softly, and the creaking of the bed was soon followed by the soft taps of bare feet on the wooden floor as she walked towards me. "If you only remember the bad, then bad is what you will feel. There's plenty of reasons why he hasn't come. One of the last things he asked of you was for you to be happy, you won't be happy if you keep blaming yourself."
"Then how can I be happy?" I asked strongly, turning to face her. "You know what's going to happen when I get home, right? Give it a year, two tops, I'll be sold off like a prize horse to some random Lord here or there. The nights will pass in that stranger's bed, and all I'll think about is what I'm missing. If I never went with you, I could have been satisfied to just lump it, but now, how can I possibly do that?"
She stepped forward, pulling me into a tight hug. "Because you're a Hofferson and your… I mean, our, House words are 'No turning back.' Don't go back, be this better person this last year has made you."
"But I can't be this better person without…" I started, but the door slammed open and a withered looking Valka came in, a look of panic across her face.
"…SHE'S GONE. CAMICAZI IS GONE!" She said with wide eyes, as she gestured towards her room and headed towards it. Me and Heather soon rushed after her, and when we reached her doorway, she pointed to a small piece of paper folded in half on the top of the bedpost. I quickly rushed over, opening it to reveal a short message scribbled in the untidiest of handwriting.
To all of you,
Please don't follow me, I'll be long gone when you see this.
I know you have to go to your families, but I can't not know the truth.
I have to find out if I've got anything left to go home to.
I'm sorry.
Camicazi.
"When did you find this?" I asked tentatively.
"Only a minute ago," Valka answered quietly. "I had no idea she was even planning to leave. Should we go after her?"
"You read this. She knows this landscape better than us. If she doesn't want to be found, she won't be," I answered sadly. We stood there in silence for a few seconds, before I finally turned back to look at them. "Are we actually ready to leave?"
"No," Valka whimpered, shaking her head, "I'll never be ready to leave, but we have to go. Stoick needs to know the truth. He needs to know our son is…" She paused, and only tears fell instead of words spoken.
Heather just ran up to hug her, "Don't cry Mum, please, don't cry." I caught her attention and mouthed to her that I was going to get the horses ready. She nodded her thanks to me with teary eyes, before she returned to comforting her mother.
I slipped out of the room, then down the corridor and the stairs. The innkeeper barely spared me a look up as I walked straight out of the main door. The harsh cold struck me, and I pulled my fur hood firmly up over my head to shield my ears from the numbing wind. Both horses were accounted for, as I reached the stables, and I untied them quickly despite my frozen fingers. I leisurely led them out to the front, and just stood there staring over the slightly snow-covered hills. Last chance, Hiccup, come on. Gods I hope Cami finds you, wherever you are. I mounted the same horse I had come to the inn on, and before I realised it, Heather had swung herself onto the other one, just infront of her mother. One final glimpse back was all I spared, before I tapped lightly on the mare's side and we set off. All I can do is move forward. No turning back.
Hiccup
"You better not have been lying when you said you knew a way out," Snotlout hissed, dragging me to my feet. I wearily opened one eye, only to see the unlocked cell door behind the stocky figure infront of me.
"Snotlout, what are you? Ohhh. Better late than never, I suppose," I grinned, but his face remained still and serious. "To answer you, no, I wasn't lying, I can get us both out." He nodded in relief, and pulled a bag from his shoulder. It opened as it hit the floor, to reveal a familiar set of armour and weapons.
"Thought you might need these," he grinned. A wide smile crept across my face as I rummaged through the pack.
"How did you?" I asked, as I quickly slotted my armour on and fitted the two swords at my waist. I hastily shoved on the pair of boots and the black cloak, before slotting the helmet on as well.
"They were all taken before they locked you down here. And for the rest, I just figured you'd need the other clothes so you wouldn't freeze to death. Now can we just get out of here," he said, the urgency flickering in his eyes. I nodded, quickly stuffing my sketchbook in the sack, before I slung it over my shoulder.
He rushed out and I followed as quickly as I could. The pain in my knee still present, but easily shoved to the back of my mind as I pointed the direction we needed to go. But before we even moved five feet from my cell, The sound of clapping stopped us in our tracks. We looked back to the steps. Two guards were lying unconscious, unceremoniously sprawled face down over the bottom few steps, but walking over them was the man I'd come to know as Viggo. If only my sword had been an inch lower those weeks ago. I should have ended him then.
"Bravo, Brother," he grinned, looking over the two guards at his feet, "You managed to knock these two fools out without them warning anyone. I'm surprised. After all, you were too ignorant to realise I have been tracking you since our little meeting earlier. Come on, going into the armoury to fetch his weapons and armour. I expected better of you, Brother."
"I am not your Brother!" Snotlout scowled, drawing his hammer out as Viggo reached the bottom step and strolled towards us.
"Trust me," I whispered in Snotlout's ear, before I dragged him infront of me and held a sword at his throat. He was breathing heavily, and sweat was building on his brow. Please trust me. I need you to trust me for this to work. I stared over the man's shoulder to eye Viggo. Why is he alone? Is he that cocky he thinks he can take both of us alone? No. He thinks he's got us trapped down here. He thinks he's in control. "Back away, or I slice his throat open," I growled at him, but he continued to advance. Keep coming Viggo. Keep coming. "I'm warning you, do you want to see him die?"
Viggo's laugh echoed all around. He wasn't wearing his mask, and the torches only emphasised the scarred half of his face, as his lips twisted into a crooked smile. "He's dead anyway. The traitor always dies, you must know that." His heavy boots rung out against the hard rock floor, as he advanced closer and closer. "After our first encounter, I expected more of you, Hiccup. I thought you may be a worthy adversary, but after this, maybe I was wrong. I mean, of all the idiots you choose to get on your side, you cho… AAAAAAARRRGGHHHH!" Viggo's monologue was interrupted by his piercing scream, as he rocked back. Gobber's dagger had whistled through the air from the tips of my fingers and implanted firmly into his shoulder blade. The metal stuck deep, immobilising his sword hand, and leaving him no option but to flee. His cries for reinforcements soon followed, but we would already be long gone by then.
I hastily withdrew my sword from Snotlout's neck, who stood motionless, and blinking profusely. "Don't just stand there. Come on!" I urged him, dragging his arm to the other side of the prison. The narrow exit was nothing more than a dead end to most, but with the right choices at each turn, it would lead exactly where we needed to go.
"What? How? Dagger? How long?" Snotlout babbled, as I had to practically pull him along.
"I've had it for weeks, but I haven't needed to use it. I tried it on the lock of the cell, but I couldn't get it open. After that I just sat and waited for you to make the right choice. But why now? Why tonight?" I asked with curiosity, as I led him through the seemingly endless maze of tunnels.
He shuffled through the narrow passageways behind me, and his breathing was so heavy it was like he was going to combust. "They were going to kill you tomorrow. Just to prove a point. I couldn't let them happen."
"Thank you," I replied genuinely, looking back at him with gratitude.
We wound our way through half-collapsing passageways and narrow crevasses, until we finally reached the entrance to the crypts. I said a silent thank you to the Gods that I'd remembered the right way, and then I turned back to Snotlout. With a serious glare I stared at him, "Promise you will never tell anyone of this. You will forget how you managed to get out of the castle. Am I clear?"
"I promise," he answered firmly, "Just get me out of here." I nodded, and we squeezed through. I had my head down and was walking at full pace, but he was just looking around, seemingly intrigued that all of this was hidden so far under the castle. Hitting the junction stopped me in my tracks. He was so caught up, he just walked straight into the back of me, nearly knocking us both to the floor. "Sorry," he said sheepishly, holding his hands up, "which way is it?" I veered right, but I couldn't stop my eyes from staring at the middle pathway. The Dragon eggs. I can't just leave them here. But I can't take them with me. No. They are safer here. When I return, when we take the castle back, then I can finally see what I'm dealing with. I promise I'll be back for them. They won't sit here in the dark for much longer. I know they won't!
The right path led us out of the castle, and the warmth of the tunnel was replaced by the bitterness of the Northern cold. I took a shaky look back at Dragon's edge. Darkness shrouded the castle, but its outline was clear to see. The Jorgenson banner hung proudly above my home, and I had to take a deep breath to collect myself. This is what they saw. Those weeks ago when they came out here before the battle. They saw the Ironborn raise their banner. They saw mine fall. Snotlout stumbled out after me, and I quickly scattered the vines to re-cover the entrance, before I turned to face him.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly. "I didn't want you to become an exile. I didn't want you to lose your family because of me."
"They're not my family," he proclaimed unflinchingly, "My only family left is my actual brother."
"If you need somewhere to go, you can come with me if you want. We can head South together. I'm sure my father would be that grateful you helped me that he would give you a small keep, a nice bit of land. You could start anew," I proposed.
He seemed to consider it, but eventually shook his head, "I can't. What my people have done to yours. There's no going back from that. I can't go South."
"Then where will you go?" I asked, and he sighed, throwing his hands up in the air.
"I don't know exactly."
"If you want to be safe, head North. I've got a friend in the Watch, tell him I sent you, you'll have a good life there."
"No," he shook his head again, "I know where I'm going, but I don't know, where, I'm going. If that makes any sense," he smiled.
"Not really," I laughed, "I have no idea what you mean."
"I'm going to find my brother. That's where I'm going. I just don't know where he is. All I can do is hope I guess," he said with a bright shine in his eyes.
I reached out an arm, and without hesitation he reached his own out and locked it with mine. "Then it appears that this is it. Thank you for your help, I just hope it isn't too late. I wish you the best in finding your brother."
"And you too with your family," he grinned, "And if we do meet again, can you promise me that that girl of yours won't attack me. I don't want this beautiful nose to end up like Mildew's."
"All I can say is I'll try," I replied with a wide smile.
"Good enough for me," he chuckled, "Farewell Haddock."
"And you, Jorgenson."
With that, he headed in one direction, and I headed in the other. As I walked my path, I took time to look back, until his black cloak had blended him into the night. My eyes flicked back to Dragon's edge. The seat of our House for hundreds of years that is now ruled by two monsters. I will be back. And I will take it back, one way or the other. Although I kept wanting to look at what I was leaving behind, I forced myself to look forward. I just hope they haven't given up on me. At least I know where they'll be. Dad, I'm on my way…